Your garden is just stunning. What a beautiful place to wander around! I love the way you use mirrors and I just love those old pieces of driftwood scattered about for added interest. Thank you for the tour. It was delightful.

No wonder you got carried away- and I'm glad you did. It was such a peaceful visit-I was reminded of my walk after the run this morning when I turned off the music and just listened to nature-the squirrels foraging and the birds chirping, the leaves blowing in the breeze...tell me about the wall and windows-the 31st one down, the last photo...And that tree or log or whatever it is in the photo above the birdhouse--I just love the lines on that!

Hi Pam! The 31st picture is an example of how I use mirrors in my garden. This section of the garden is heavily canopied by the large deciduous trees growing in close proximity to each other, so it is heavily shaded in summer. The mirrors make the narrow bed up against the wall appear larger and reflect light very effectively. It looks particularly lovely when lit up at night. The piece of wood you queried was found half buried on a site my husband was surveying. He knows how much I love old bits of wood, so home it came to be added to my collection. The last photo is a section of our wetland garden. The large leafed plant is a giant strelitzia. This is what I see from one of our bathroom windows.

I'll let you into a secret, Andree. I have been known to stay outdoors from early morning until it grows dark and even then, with all the garden lighting, I have been tempted to linger out there till bedtime on perfect evenings.

Dear Desiree,Thank you for this journey through your garden.Seeing the art objects, the stones, the driftwood, the statuary, the fronds, mirrors, benches, pool, paths--well everything--helps me picture you there when you comment on my blog or others that I read. I like to think that my eyes have seen the statue that you see every day. Such a lovely Eden.

Oh, Dee! What a LOVELY comment. I'm so happy to know you found my garden enjoyable and interesting. I have tried to create a very peaceful space and use as many natural elements as I can get my grubby gardening hands on.

Oh dear, Desiree. I'm afraid I got lost in this lush wilderness of yours! I was careful to leave a trail of bread crumbs so that I could find my way back out, but alas, Heathcliff ate them all! It is very touching to learn that you honor your departed canines by scattering their ashes in your planting bed thereby making them a permanent part of your garden. If you're feeling guilty about neglecting the rooms inside your house you should remember that these rooms on the outside also need and deserve your attention and are obviously getting it. I hope you are having a great week, my dear friend!

I am delighted to know you lost yourself in my garden, Tom. That, to me, is exactly the purpose of a garden. So, if I have managed to achieve that possibility, then I feel vindicated. I'm sorry the dogs gobbled up your bread crumbs. They actually are well-fed and should have known better. Secretly, I think they were just enjoying visiting with you and didn't want you to leave ;)

Oh I am so glad you took us on a tour of your garden at last! You have been enticing us for ages with a little photo here or there :) How long do the mirrors last in your garden? - I find things outside here do not last long before they become tarnished, and just look like junk. I love that little white open window, and the tiles in the paving below it. The paths look very inviting and natural, you have done a superb job in creating a garden that seems to have lots of exciting little features just waiting to be discovered.

When I started my blog, it was really to share my garden with masterful gardeners such as yourself, whose beautiful gardens I'd admired so much. So, that being said, I have done several garden posts in the year I've been blogging. The first few posts I prepared were done as a tour of the various areas of the garden.

In answer to your question about the longevity of my garden mirrors. I have not yet experienced a problem with any, apart from one which became detached from its frame. Several of the newer mirrors are heavy duty outdoor mirror glass. I really do love using them all over. I love to pick up the different reflections at different times of the day and at night.

Thank you for your lovely comment. It certainly means a lot coming from you! I get garden envy whenever I visit your little Eden.

Des you have done such an amazing job on your garden. Everything looks so fresh and strong and beautiful. With a garden like that I would spend as much time as I could outside enjoying the sights and sounds. Hope your Valentines Day is absolutely wonderful. Hugs,Odie

Riches - around every bend, under every tree. It's so beautiful. I half expected a huge splash and to have the serenity blown away by some doggie swimmers, but, no...the quiet prevailed and I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you, Wanda! I really do enjoy being out in my garden but so often, I'm gardening rather than just strolling around, appreciating the way it has evolved through the years. Yesterday was one of the rare days I determined to grab the moment and just look, as though I were visiting someone else's garden rather than my own.

Our summers are hot and dry, so when we first started our garden in 1983, our priority was planting lots of trees. Although only knee high saplings then, they grew into the wonderful shade providers we have today. I have attempted to imitate nature's forest floor by adding lots of mulch and leave all the leaves that fall. I love a mainly green backdrop with some colourful splashes here and there. Very calming on those hot days.

Oh my Desiree, how I wish I could walk around that gorgeous garden with you, and then sit by the pool and sip something cool! You must feel that you have your very own little slice of heaven on earth when you are out there, and I am sure, too, that you find solace in the garden, especially at this time. The shots are stunning - quite breathtaking. I love the use of mirrors. I must try that in my own garden. Trouble is, with all the rain we get, I've always wondered if they would go rusty quite quickly! I also love all the little cherubs that you have dotted around. I also have lots of them. Lush is a word I think I would also use, but it really is quite spectacular, and I can just imagine the amount of work that goes into it to keep it looking so good. Sending hugs your way my friend! Diane.

I would love you to join me for tea, or a glass of wine or sherry :) Thank you for your charming comment, Diane, as a 'fellow do-it-yourself' gardener :) If you do want to incorporate garden mirrors, ask for the specially treated type made specifically for this purpose.

Once again the secret garden came to mind as I looked at these. I also envy you the sunshine. It is dreary and cold here. I can't wait till spring. have a great day or night I guess since we are on opposite sides of the world. :)

Finding your comment this evening is such a joy, Melynda! I am so pleased you're having another "good eye day"! Our weather is beginning to take on that autumnal chilliness in the early mornings, so I suspect your spring can't be too far away. I take your likening my garden to the secret garden as a huge compliment. Thank you so much!

Lovely to see you, Miyako. Your new Avatar (profile picture) is so pretty! Yes, I do love the sense of calm I get when I see my garden Buddha, which is often as he is seated at the base of a large Yellowwood tree that grows just outside my little desk nook off to the side of our garden lounge. Guess what else? I have a Laughing Buddha seated on my desk. He is cast in brass and was a gift from my son when he visited China a couple of years ago.

Ok, now you're just showing off! Perfect LUSH garden , love the window framed in the brick wall, and the mirrors and all the LUSHINESS-Madness there. Do you have a problem with mosquitos ? they would eat me alive there with all that abundamt foliage and LUSSSHHHNNNEEESSSSSSSSSS!!take care sweetie, Gina

How nice to see you here, Gina. Yes, we do have mosquitoes but nothing quite as bad as you describe. I haven't ever had a problem while gardening and I use mozzie spray if I see the odd straggler indoors at night. I do get spider bites though. Not often, but now and then. And I have been stung by a bee or two. My garden is far from perfect, but I try to keep it reasonably controlled and my hubby helps a lot, too, so between us we manage ok. I love the effect mirrors give to a garden. They act like living paintings. Big hug xoxo

Dear Desiree..where to begin..Well, first of all I want to say that as much as I love the different tours of other gardens you have shown us..and they all were just lovely, this post today of your very own garden was my very favorite. The reason is because it is YOURS! You work in it, spend time in it, and it shows love and imagination. It is you. I loved every moment of being privileged to spend time with you. It brings you closer and lets us know you better. I think you know what I am trying to say. You always do. Always. You say that your garden isn't perfect, but it is! It is exactly what a garden should be. The mirrors...were stunning! I am already wondering where to hang some!Lots of love and hugs,Mona

Dear Mona: You are so sweet and yes, I do know what you're getting at. A very dear, older friend of mine has said exactly the same to me. She lives about 5 hours away along the beautiful Garden Route and so we seldom get the opportunity to see each other anymore. She and her husband are retired and enjoying their Golden Years.

Hi again...don't mind me. Just pretend I'm not here..I'll be very quiet and just sit here for a bit. Golden years..ah yes. That's what Howard and I are doing. :) So as I was saying..just go on about your visit..and I'll let myself out. Much love,Mona

Desiree, did your coffee get cold? I had to laugh,...this happens to me as well. Thank goodness we can't "waste film" anymore. I'm always shocked at how many photos I take since starting to blog and this year am editing and renaming them each month, while working on last year's. Your garden is so serene and beautiful and this post is like a garden tour. If I was set down here without knowing where I was,...I know I'd recognize it. Sue

Hi Desiree. That was an enchanting stroll through your garden with you and I thoroughly enjoyed the procrastination! It is lush and planted with many of my favourites. I lost of my pictures when my pc crashed but have been able to recover them now and only posting some gardens from spring this week!! Oi! Calamity!

Oh Desiree, I have started to get to this post three times and been interrupted twice before finishing! If I had your gardens I'd NEVER be in the house! I simply can't believe that you have these gorgeous visions right before your eyes every day. I am so jealous . . . but not meanly!!

You have a natural talent for putting together so many different textures with the natural wood, drift wood, features, and greenery, oh and flowers!

Hey, Kiddo.......Took me several minutes stopping at each spot imagining that I was walking through your garden with you. I tried o pick out a favorite spot, but found that they all were my favorites. I wish I had your gift with a camera. Actually, I wish I had your gift with ANY camera. About 6 months ago I bought a new one that was supposed to be simple to down load on my computer. I have yet to figure out how to do the "SIMPLE" things their advertisements boasted of.

I hope to be back in my Monday groove....time will tell...I think I will go back to your garden, sip my coffee, and dream of having such a wonderful place in which to relax........kt